Boy, 14, Charged In Death Of Woman Who Helped Girl

DAYTONA BEACH — A 14-year-old boy has been charged in the death of a woman who was shot Saturday morning while trying to give a girl refuge from a fight between two groups of boys.

Daytona Beach police Capt. Barry Neall said the boy was arrested in connection with the slaying, but it will be up to the state attorney's office to decide whether the charge will be first-degree murder or a lesser charge.

Police would not identify the suspect because he is a juvenile.

Neall said police have a second suspect, but haven't found him.

Ida Mae Kearse, 35, 644 Hawk St., was shot once through the heart at 1:51 a.m. Saturday at her home. Police said Kearse had opened her door to a girl trying to escape from two rival groups outside. Kearse was shot as she closed the door.

Police Capt. Noel Ouellette said she is believed to have been shot with either a .44- or .45-caliber handgun. Kearse was the mother of a 22-month-old child, he said.

Officers said the woman's death was the result of a shootout between two groups of boys -- one from the South Street and Palmetto Park housing projects and the other from an area north of Volusia Avenue. Neall said the groups were not organized gangs.

Police said the shootout stemmed from a dispute between two boys who had been dating the same girl. Because the shooting is under investigation, officials refused to release further details.